Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

I have never bought JDSB; never tasted it, in fact. However, as I've lately begun tasting whiskeys again, and have renewed my love affair with Dickel, I thought I'd give "the other Tennessee whiskey" a try. I picked up a 2011 Ducks Unlimited bottle earlier this week. It was under $40, so why not.

These are the first tasting notes I've posted in some time, but I've been doing a lot of tasting and writing notes lately. Hopefully these aren't too far off the mark.

Palate: Big entry full of fat corn notes, followed almost immediately by pecans, fruit, and maple in the middle - add some saged sausage and you've got breakfast. The fruit, btw, is not banana, but rather some citrus, a bit of peach or some other stone fruit, and maybe something tropical - pineapple? mango? Nice, full mouthfeel enhanced by a vanilla backbone that serves to underscore and meld the other assorted notes.

Finish: Long, deep, maple-rich with some light cinnamon and another dollop of vanilla cream. Maybe a touch of caramel.

This is some very good whiskey. I wish I'd tried it sooner. It won't replace my favorite pours, most of which are less expensive and not as sweet, but this is a great option when out, I think, and probably worth keeping around as an after-dinner dram. I like Dickel 12, and I think it's a better value, but I have only had one or two bottles of that whiskey than can compare to this. Really nice indeed.

Re: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

Good notes, Tim. That sounds similar to the memory I have of JDSB, of which I am a fan. But at $46 at my favorite store, I'll buy it only rarely. Not sure at what price point I would buy it more often. But when I can get great 12 year olds for less than $25 (Weller 12, EC12) or quality single barrels (ETL, EWSB) for about the same, $46 is tough to pay.

I usually have a hard time paying more than $35 for anything other than something extremely rare (BTAC, Van Winkle).

There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there. - GK Chesterton

Re: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

I'm a big fan of Dickel 12. That said... I really like the JDSB. I can get it for under $40.00 also. I agree with your tasting notes. I'm always dumbfounded by how nuch I like the JDSB , but I have no love at all for old #7.

Re: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

JDSB is kinda growing on me a bit too. I bought a private bottling from 2001 a few weeks ago. I liked it well enough that I picked up a regular bottle yesterday. Like I posted in the 'What Bourbon Did You Purchase Today' thread, I couldn't pass it up. The sticker price was $25.99.

I agree with some of your tasting notes Tim. I also get the maple glazed doughnut and corn on the nose. The taste for me was a hint of maple and pecans, but instead of a fruit, I thought it was more like cotton candy or bubble gum. A pretty decent pour IMHO. My JD drinking bowling buddies will be surprised the next time they come over. Joe

Re: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

This is actually one of my favorite pours, of any spirit. I think your review is spot on, though I get more vanilla notes all the way through from nowe to finish. Which is perhaps why I like it so much; While not a big desserts fan, I am a fan of coffees and milkshakes and chai teas and maple donuts that harken to these dessert spice flavors. Thank you for sharing -I may get a bottle visit my local package store next. It's been too long.